EMERGENCY HELP (WITHIN 3 HOURS)

LD4Life

Active Member
Ok, here's the deal. I have a show tonight in three hours and I had one of my theatre's Chauvet (yes, go ahead and laugh) Q-Spot 575s go down. The fan will turn on but nothing else. No display, no lamp function, no movement. I've checked the fuse where the power chord attaches to the fixture and the lamp and both are fine. This fixture is very important to the show, and that show is in 3 hours! HELP!!!!!!!!
 
That has a magnetic ballast right? The Ballast and the power transformer for the logic and motor drive are separate, so for both control and lamp to be out means the problem may be in the primary wiring. If I remember right (not at the shop) there are selectable taps on the power transformer. Look in that area for a wire that may have popped out. There are two more painful possibilities; The power transformer (which then feeds the ballast) has an internal thermal fuse. Second: If the unit has a "lamp off" feature which I'm almost sure it does, it may be the DC power supply ore even a processor failure, as these would fail to trip the relay for "lamp on." I am thinking that the fan is 12vdc so if that's true, the fact that that is running is giving me pause for thought.. (sorry, thinking this out as I go.) That would mean your DC supply IS working, or at least part of it which eliminates the power transformer... Starting to think it's a microprocessor lock up or failure of the 5 volt buss. On the 250's there is a fuse on the 5 volt buss. Not sure about the 575's but maybe. Sadly, I think those fuses are pico fuses soldered on the main PCB.

I am assuming you are qualified to be doing this, or please ignore all of the above. (Usually disclaimer applies)
 
Last edited:
I just d/l'd the tech reference from Chauvet and took a look at the schematics. There is mention of a "reset switch" as well as the fuse, but I cannot find where it it located. If it's obvious to you be sure to hit it, < Sophmoric I know, just trying to help and I know how I get when under pressure.> The other thing to check would be the connection off of the power PCB. Just above the 50Hz-60Hz switch there is a terminal block that outputs to the ballast and PCB < main Board> I would definately check to make sure that coonection has not failed.
I'm sorry that's all I have for you.
 
yeah, stupid part with these is that the reset switch is electronic through the display panel, so no panel no reset switch. I'm gonna take a look at you guy's suggestions and see what happens. I may be back, though.
 
By the way, where did you find those schematics?
 
So, I diagram of where it is one the panel is great, if only I knew where that panel with the power selecter switch was located on the unit. It is certainly nowhere accessable from the outside with out serious cover removal. Anyone know where it would be. I'm experienced once I get inside, but without knowing were it is on the unit and with no interior schematics to show me where, I don't feel like tearing the entire unit apart trying to find it. Suggestions would be great.
 
Last edited:
Yep, makes me happy every time. As well as getting tech support people that don't even know the names of the products the company makes.
 
did that solve your issue?
 
I'm still working on it. It doesn't seem to be the wiring around the power supply or switches. I'm in the process of checking the ballast. I had another issue come up that required immediate attention, so I pulled a light that wasn't as essential and replaced the Q-Spot for tonight and I'm going to finish with the work tomorrow. It sufficed for the show, though. Thank you all for your help.
 
Hummm… Ballast would not explain the lack of display. Still think the problem is with either a dropped logic buss (+5) or some type of processor lockup / failure. (I am assuming from your comment in post #4 that there is nothing lit on the LED display. Anything at all would indicate you r 5v buss is ok.)

The key rule in electronic diagnostics is that all symptoms lead to a common point of failure. (Err.. Unless it was dropped!)
 
Yeah, nothing on the display. I checked all connections and nothing seems to be loose. Right now its sitting in my shop with both base panels off and I'm still not able to find anything at the moment. The curse of the connections with the Chauvets is that they are sealed with this white puttylike stuff, so you can't even really see the connections at all. None of that has broken seal, and I don't feel like peeling any of that back, so I'm still looking.
 
Because this is a public forum, its not that we all don’t want to help, its just that we get cold feet providing advice due to liability and safety issues. That being said, I think it is very telling that the display is black. If the fans are running and they are 120v, then my suspicion goes back to the power transformer. All modern transformers have fuse links built into the windings as a safety against fires caused by overheating. Unfortunately, sometimes those links open up for no reason.

If the fan motors are low voltage motors, than I’m thinking logic failure or 5v buss. I though I had a link for the board schematic but for the life of me I can’t find it. It must have been for a different unit. Someone on this forum is a Chauvet dealer and may be able to shed some light. I am also remembering something on those about the unit not initializing until the lamp strikes, but I think in that case you would still have a lit display.
 
Thanks, John. I understand completely about not wanting to get into this kind of thing in a public forum. I was just in a bind and couldn't get ahold of Chauvet. I still haven't heard back from them. Anyway, I will go back to those areas and look more closely. If I can't find anything, I may just have to ship it back for repairs and let the Chauvet guys figure it out. I have to tell you, stay as far away from these things as possible. My theatre has 3 Q-Spots and 3 Q-Washes. One of my Q-Spots has been shipped back 4 times, which took 6 months total, before it finally works. This show is the first chance I have had to use it since I bought it because it has been in the shop. I currently have this Q-Spot (a different one than the one that's been in the shop) and a Q-Wash down and being fixed. I'm definitely fed up with them, that's for sure.
 
Ok. So I got the problem fixed, so here is what went wrong so that people in the future can check this with their Q-Spot 575s before giving up. The J1 and J2 connections on the main PCB somehow came loose. A slight nudge to them would cause them to connect. They were placed in the same area as the orchestra, so my guess is that someone probably tried to scoot one across the floor, which would have knocked stuff loose. Anywho, there's something to think about in the future.
 
Does that mean JD and I both get a prize for both being kinda right ? :lol:
 
Sure! 1000 points for both of you! No clue what the points are for, but you have them.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back